OP0179-HPR CHANGES IN WORK ABILITY FOLLOWING REHABILITATION
Authors: M. Nilsen Skinnes, R. H. Moe, T. Johansen, H. Bruun-Hanssen, K. Dahl, I. Eid, T. Fagertun, A. Habberstad, I. Kjeken, T. Rajalahti, A. D. Linge, A. D. Lyken, A. Orpana, L. Røset, R. Wilkie, T. Uhlig
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023)

<h3>Background</h3> Improved work participation is an important goal in rehabilitation, and has important socio-economic benefits. Despite this, there is limited knowledge about how rehabilitation impacts work ability across different diagnostic groups. <h3>Objectives</h3> To examine whether personal and disease-related factors predict changes in self-perceived work ability one year after rehabilitation. <h3>Methods</h3> In a longitudinal multicenter rehabilitation cohort (RehabNytte) 17 rehabilitation centers across Norway recruited more than 3700 patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD) as the largest diagnostic group [1]. Participants completed questionnaires at admission and discharge, and after 3, 6 and 12 months. Work ability was self-reported with a single item from the Work Ability Index (WAI) (2), referred to as the Work Ability Scale (WAS), where patients compared their current work ability to their lifetime best on a 0-10 scale (10= best work ability). For the logistic regression analysis WAS was categorized as either low/moderate (≤7) or good/excellent (≥8) [3]. Variables of interest were age, gender, diagnosis (cancer, rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, other), comorbidities, health region, education level (low, medium, high), body mass index (BMI), smoking, pain intensity (NRS-scale 0-10) and self-reported health (EuroQol VAS, scale 0-100). Retired patients were removed from analysis. A logistic regression model was fitted with variables individually predicting WAS at 12 months follow up, adjusted for sociodemographic and lifestyle variables and baseline WAS. <h3>Results</h3> Mean age at baseline was 53.3 (13.6) years. Seventy percent were female, 42 % had RMD, 24 % cancers and 33 % other diseases. Mean WAS at baseline (n= 3096) was 3.3 (SD 3.0), which significantly increased to 4.4 (3.2) at 12-months follow-up (n= 2397) (p&lt;0.001, Figure 1). Good WAS-score ≥ 8 at 12 months (adjusted for baseline work ability score and BMI) was predicted by high education level, higher age and high self-reported health at baseline, whereas low WAS-score ≤7 was predicted by RMD or cancer diseases, number of comorbidities and higher pain intensity (Table 1, OR in bold indicates p&lt;0.05). <h3>Conclusion</h3> In addition to disease- and demographic factors like high age, high education, comorbidities and presence of RMD, changes in work ability scores were related to pain and self-reported health, factors that are modifiable trough rehabilitation. <h3>References</h3> [1] Moe RH. RehabNytte - A Study of Rehabilitation Processes in Specialized Care in Norway [Available from: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03764982. [2] Ahlstrom L, Grimby-Ekman A, Hagberg M, Dellve L. The work ability index and single-item question: associations with sick leave, symptoms, and health – a prospective study of women on long-term sick leave. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment &amp; Health. 2010;36(5):404-12. [3] Oellingrath IM, De Bortoli MM, Svendsen MV, Fell AKM. Lifestyle and work ability in a general working population in Norway: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2019;9(4):e026215. <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> NIL. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> None Declared.